visual artS Program Details

The Visual Art Program develops students' technical and creative abilities.  Students are instructed in a wide range of studio disciplines.

Drawing

Students develop classical and experimental drawing skills through exercises in perspective studies, still life studies, life drawing and technical drawings.  Students maintain a sketchbook used in the design and planning of all artwork.

Printmaking

Students are introduced to relief and intaglio printmaking processes.  Students undertake the entire printmaking process from the creation of the plate to the final print.  A specialized, purpose-built printmaking studio allows students a unique studio experience.

Painting 

Students are introduced to traditional and mixed media painting methodologies, using a variety of water-based media.  Students develop and integrate personal imagery into their work.

Photography

Students are introduced to the medium of digital photography. Beginning with an understanding of the basic operations of a digital camera, students explore photographic history, techniques, aesthetics, and practice.

Ceramics

Students develop hand building and wheel-throwing skills, as well as a range of surface decoration, glazing, and finishing techniques. Students produce both functional and sculptural forms, and a range of other sculptural inquiries.

Art History

Students study Western and non-Western art history. Students develop their understanding of art history and use this knowledge to develop a context for their own work.

Art Exhibits

In the course of their art studies at Canterbury, Visual Arts students are given the opportunity to display their work. The school lobby houses a large gallery with showcases and wall displays of student paintings, drawings, prints, photos, ceramics and sculptures. 

Students in Grade 8, 9, 10 and 11   are welcome to apply for the Visual Arts!  Please follow the application instructions on the Apply!  page to complete your Arts Canterbury application.  

After you submit your application, you will receive an  Audition Confirmation Letter to your Primary Contact Email within 10 business days. This letter contains very important information.  If you do not receive your Audition Confirmation Letter, please contact arts.canterbury@ocdsb.ca.   

Below, you will find information specific to Visual Arts applicants.

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All Visual Arts Applicants:

Visual Arts Portfolios are due no later than  Tuesday, January 6, 2026 by 10:00 AM. See the section below for portfolio requirements. 

• Portfolios should be in a Google Slide presentation

• Name your portfolio: Last Name_First Name (Visual Arts Portfolio). 

For example: Smith_Jane_For Grade 9 (Visual Arts Portfolio)

• DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME INSIDE ANY OF THE SLIDES

  • • Your artwork will be a blind submission. 

    • We will NOT share your name with the adjudicators. 

    • We will remove the name and assign an individual code to your portfolio before the adjudication process begins.

• VERY IMPORTANT - EDITTING  ACCESS: Give arts.canterbury@ocdsb.ca editing access in Google Slides (see ¨Share¨ - top right, click the arrow find ¨Editing¨ access)

• Email your portfolio to: arts.canterbury@ocdsb.ca.   

  • Do NOT email your portfolio from your school account if you go to a non-OCDSB school as there are often restrictions on who can access those student emails.

• You will receive email confirmation that your portfolio was received.  If you have not received confirmation of your portfolio submission after 2 business days, please email arts.canterbury@ocdsb.ca

IMPORTANT: A.I. generators are strictly forbidden. The work must all be the applicant´s original artwork.

Visual Arts: Group Life-Drawing Workshop (All Applicants)

What:  In groups of approximately twenty students, applicants participate in a life drawing workshop where they draw from a draped model. The workshop is designed to allow the audition panel to observe the student’s drawing ability first-hand and to see how the student responds to direction and feedback. The model is drawn 4 times. All materials for the life drawing workshop will be provided. 

When: January 15 -or- 16, 2026 (1 hour)

Where: Canterbury High School

Time: *Please see your Audition Confirmation Letter  for your exact date and time.* 

(If you applied to Arts Canterbury, but did not receive an Audition Confirmation Letter, please contact arts.canterbury@ocdsb.ca.)

Visual Arts: Portfolio / Individual Interview (Some Applicants by Request)

What: Solo Portfolio interview (some applicants by request of the Visual Arts team)

When: January 27, 28, 29 2026

Where: Canterbury High School

Note that receiving a request for an interview / not receiving a request for an interview is neither a negative reaction to your work nor a positive indication that you have been accepted to the program.   

Please save these dates.  We will NOT be able to reschedule missed interviews unless it is a medical emergency or illness. If a solo portfolio interview is requested, you will be notified of the date/time after the Large Group Workshop.

VISUAL ARTS PORTFOLIO 

AUTHENTICITY

We trust that all works included in the portfolio have been conceived by and completed from start to finish by the candidate and the candidate only.

Do not include any pieces completed in or assisted with in a private class. (You may reproduce work from a class at home from scratch if you desire.) We should not see anyone else’s hand in your work. Students are encouraged to seek support from a Visual Arts teacher at school or another trusted adult. Do not use any type of A.I. image generation to support idea development.

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PRESENTATION

Your portfolio will be sent digitally in a Google Slides presentation. You will need to photograph each piece of art and upload it to your slide presentation. Each slide will include: 

● Clear image(s) of the artwork 

● A text box with a brief explanation of the image (1 sentence or phrase)

Slide #1: Drawing of a Pair of Shoes 

Candidates are asked to observe a pair of shoes (i.e. runners, boots, slippers etc.) and depict what they see with a great deal of detail using lines only. No shading.

Size: Minimum of 8.5”x11” on choice of paper

Media: This drawing can be done in pencil, pen, marker, coloured pencils, chalk or charcoal.

Text box should say: Who’s shoes are depicted, what medium was used and why those shoes

were chosen as the subject. (Example: On charcoal, I admire this person for her positive attitude as a female athlete. She never gives up.) Do NOT use names or relationship details in the description.

Slide #2: Portrait of a Family Member/Friend

Candidates are asked to create a portrait of a family member/friend from direct observation.  Do not use a photograph.

Size: Minimum of 8.5”x11” on choice of paper, canvas or other (i.e. lined, graph, coloured paper)

Media: This piece can be done with any variety of media (i.e. graphite, ink, paint, watercolour, printmaking, collage or mixed media which is a combination of the different materials)

Text box should say: Who the model (family/friend member) is (For example: sister, father, volleyball friend etc) what medium was used and why this individual was chosen. (Do not use names when telling us about the model.)

Planning Slides: Include up to 3 images (in the same slidedeck) of process/steps to completing this piece; you can show planning and/or stages of the work in development.

Slide #3: Still Life Study

Candidates are asked to select 3-5 objects, arrange objects on a surface in an interesting way and draw from observation. This still life drawing can be done in any style or technique. Include a photo of your actual still life for this slide.

• Use a variety of objects (fruit/vegetables, teapot, etc.) as they present diversity in size, shape and texture.

• Overlap the objects to consider their form, tone, and composition.  

• Light the still life from one side to enhance the lights and darks.

• Black and white or colour are both acceptable.

• Draw for about two hours; this can be extended over a number of sessions. 

Size: Minimum 8.5”x11”

Media: Open (i.e. pencil crayons, pastels, markers, paint)

Surface: Open (i.e. standard drawing paper, construction paper, bristol board etc.)

Text box should say: The medium chosen to depict still life.

Slide #4: Object Drawing in 5 Ways

Candidates are asked to select 1 object they use every day (i.e. pen, toothbrush) and on one surface, draw the object 5 times with 5 different mediums, in 5 different ways/styles/approaches.

Example: In Sharpie, crayon, lipstick etc. sketchy, detailed, cartoony etc.

Include all five drawings on one page. You can change the perspective of the object in each drawing or keep it the same. How you arrange the 5 drawings is up to you.

* Tip: Be creative with the materials and styles you choose; you don’t have to use conventional drawing tools.

Size: Open

Media: Open

Text box should say: What the object is and what mediums were used.

Slide #5: Personal Piece (NO DIGITAL ARTWORK will be accepted as part of personal work)

Create or include one piece that they feel best reflects their artistic ability and creativity. This piece can be of any subject matter and created through drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sewing, mixed media etc. This piece could have been created recently or within the last two years. Show us what you like to do and what you excel at. (Only in this case - This could be a work that you created in Grade 7 or Grade 8 at school or in an art class.)

Size: Open

Media: Open

Text box should say: What the piece is, what medium was used and why it was included in the portfolio.

Planning Slides: Include (on the same slide) up to 3 images of your process and/or planning.

Slide #6:  Sketchbook or Planning

Include one slide showing your planning and/or sketchbook process in 1-5 images (in the same slide). This could be planning work for any of the required pieces or something else.

Tips for Photographing Your Artwork

1. Hang your artwork on the wall

Find a neutral colored wall (white, black, gray) and hang your work at a height where the middle of your piece will be parallel to where your camera will be—either on a tripod or resting sturdily on a table or other surface. If an artwork is leaning against a wall, the image can be skewed. We want to see clear, well lit images.

2. Light your artwork

If you are shooting your work indoors, do so in a room with plenty of windows and natural light. Some artists also enjoy photographing their work outdoors when it is cloudy or overcast, as indirect sunlight provides the best lighting. Natural light can be a beautiful way to photograph your work as long as it is indirect.

Once your artwork is secured to the wall, You want to position your camera so that the frame is filled with the artwork, with a bit of background that you can crop out later. It is important for many juries to see the edges of the paintings to get a sense of scale.